15^th meeting of the COM was held on 1^st October 2005 in Astana, Republic of Kazakhstan

      The 15^th COM:

• Adopted the ECO Vision 2015 as Basic Reference Document of ECO which was an important outcome of the meeting. This document will serve as a basic policy guideline for ECO activities in the next ten years which sets targets to be achieved in the fields of trade, transport, energy, agriculture, health and environment, etc.

• Deliberated on the implementation of ECO Trade Agreement (ECOTA) and Transit Transport Framework Agreement (TTFA) and urged the member states to ratify these agreements in order to pave the way for their early implementation. 

• Appreciated the progress in the designation of coordinating countries in the following areas and expressed the hope that with joint cooperation between ECO Secretariat and the coordinating countries the projects/agreements would soon be implemented and lead to further economic integration in the region:

• Appreciated the annual reports submitted by the ECO Cultural Institute, ECO College of Insurance, ECO-CCI and ECO-CEC and expressed the hope that these agencies/institutions will play a positive role in enhancing cooperation in the region.

• Granted the status of 'Regional Institution of ECO' to ECO-Consultancy & Engineering Company (Pvt) Limited (ECO-CEC).

• Approved the Report/Recommendations prepared by the Eminent Persons Group (EPG) and reviewed and amended by the Council of Permanent Representatives (CPR).

• Took decisions with regard to the reorganization of the ECO Secretariat and requested the CPR to make necessary adjustments in the Organizational Structure of ECO Secretariat based on the COM's decisions.

• Approved the recommendations made by the 102^nd CPR meeting to ensure regular participation at the appropriate level in the ECO events/meetings and expressed hope that these measures would reduce the chances of postponement/cancellation of the events/meetings.

• Approved, inter alia, reports of the meetings of the CPR, ECO Secretariat's budget for 2005, Revised Salary Package for ECO Secretariat Staff, ECO Secretariat's Audit Report for 2004 as well as the reports of the other sectoral ministerial meetings held after the 14^th COM.

• Requested the CPR to finalize the details with regard to the budget of DCCI. 

• Appreciated the member states who had paid their contributions to the Secretariat's budget and expressed hope that member states in arrears would soon be able to clear their duties with instructions to the CPR to look into the issue in a broader context so that further delay in payment of assessed budget contributions will be avoided in future. 

• Observed that member states should give priority to the speedy process of ratification of agreements they had signed for their early implementation.

• Appointed Dr. Mehdi Sanaie as President of ECO Cultural Institute.

• Discussed the role of ECO in the reconstruction of Afghanistan and reaffirmed its resolve to participate in the international efforts aiming at the reconstruction of Afghanistan. Hon'able Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran declared that Iran has allocated US$ 400,000 to help the Afghanistan reconstruction process through the ECO Fund for Reconstruction of Afghanistan. In this regard, Pakistan had already pledged US$ 5 million.

  14^th meeting of the COM was held on Sept. 12, 2004 in Dushanbe, Rep. of Tajikistan

The The 14^th meeting of COM:

• Decided that CPR may further deliberate upon the report, including the proposal for ECO Vision 2015, prepared by the Eminent Persons Group (EPG) and submit its recommendations/views to the 15^th COM meeting.

• Approved the modalities for establishment of ECO Special Fund for Reconstruction of Afghanistan.

• Appointed ECO Audit Board; comprising Iran, Pakistan and Turkey for three years.

• Approved the selection of nine winners of ECO Awards 2004.

• Appointed Mr. Ermek Ibrahimov of Kyrgyz Republic as Director (Economic Research & Statistics) for another period of three years.

• Approved the draft Resolution on Cooperation between UN and ECO.

• Appreciated the annual reports of the ECO Cultural Institute, ECO College of Insurance, ECO Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ECO-CCI) and ECO-Consultancy & Engineering Company (ECO-CEC) and called upon their heads to further promote the performance of these institutions and asked the concerned authorities of the member states to extend their support to them.

• Asked the CPR to enhance and strengthen the already established coordinated activities through an institutionalized network for combating drug trafficking including trading in drug precursors, derivatives, byproducts and substances and also to consider suggesting a regional institutional mechanism if the current DCCU expires due to lack of support from international community.

• Called upon the CPR to discuss Secretary General's recommendation to designate coordinators from member states for early implementation of priority projects already agreed upon.

• Urged signatory member states to ratify ECO Trade Agreement (ECOTA) and called upon other member states to consider the possibility of signing this agreement as soon as possible.   

• Urged member states to further encourage the active engagement of private sector in economic cooperation.

• Called upon ECO-CCI to work on modality to have a permanent secretariat of ECO-CCI in their next General Assembly meeting.

  13^th meeting of the COM  was held on June 11, 2003 in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic

The The 13^th meeting of COM approved/decided:

• The Council appointed H.E. Dr. Bekzhasar Narbayev (nominee of the Republic of Kazakhstan) for the post of ECO Secretary General for a term of three years.

• The Council also appointed the following three Deputies Secretary General for a term of three years:

              a)         Mr. Orhan Isik (nominee of the Republic of Turkey).

              b)         Dr. Sohrab Shahabi (nominee of the Islamic Republic of Iran).

              c)         Mr. Masroor A. Junejo (nominee of the I. R. of  Pakistan).

• The Council approved the appointment of Mr. Mohammad Ali Shoaee, who was nominated by Iran, as the President of ECO Cultural Institute.

•  The Council considered the plan of Action  for reconstruction of Afghanistan  and requested the Secretariat to revise it in the light of the views and comments expressed by the member states
• The Council agreed to set up an Eminent Persons Group from the member states with specific timeframe and target in collaboration with the ECO Secretary General to submit their recommendations to the 14^th COM on the measures to promote efficiency and effectiveness of ECO.

  12^th meeting of the COM  was held on October 12, 2002 in Istanbul, Turkey

The The 12^th meeting of COM approved/decided:

• The Council approved the selection of eight winners for the ECO Awards 2002.

•  Emphasized the need to harmonize the time frame of various ECO meetings and next Calendar of Events may be organized in such a way that it covers the proposed activities for a period of two years.

•  Member states which have not yet ratified the Treaty of Izmir should ensure its early ratification. A request was also made for early harmonization of TTFA (1998) and TTA (1995).

•  Promptly address the issues of rehabilitation, reconstruction and development for the welfare of the Afghan people.

•  Established a Special ECO Fund to assist early implementation of the reconstruction projects in Afghanistan.

•  Welcomed the proposal of ECO Business Forum to have ECO Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ECO-CCI) shall have a permanent Secretariat and also accepted the offer of the President of the Union of Chambers of Commodity Exchanges of Turkey to host the permanent Secretariat in Turkey.

  11^th meeting of COM was held in Dushanbe-Tajikistan on May 4, 2001

The The 11^th meeting of COM while adopting Dushanbe Communiqué approved/decided:

• Plan of Action for energy/petroleum in the ECO region for 2001-2005 as recommended by 1^st ECO Ministerial Meeting on Energy/Petroleum held on 8 November 2000 in Islamabad.

• ECO Ministers of Industries and Agriculture meetings to be held in Iran and Pakistan respectively;

• List of events approved by COM should be reconsidered by CPR to ensure level of participation;

11^th COM called upon/emphasized:

• CPR to review the progress of different projects undertaken with the help of international organizations;

• Early construction of the missing roads and rail links;

• To accelerate the ratification of Transit Transport Framework. Agreement by remaining member states;

• To complete pending formalities for early establishment of ECO Trade and Development Bank and ECO. Reinsurance Company;

• The need for enhanced interaction of the private business communities of ECO;

•  To strengthen cooperation in vital sectors energy, minerals, agriculture, industry, health, information technology and tourism;

• Gradual elimination in inter-regional tariff and non-tariff barriers;

• Cooperation in the protection of environment;

  10^th meeting of COM was held in Tehran-Iran on 8 June 2000

The 10^th  COM while adopting Tehran Declaration decided/approved:

• New arrangement supporting participation of the representatives of new Member States in ECO events/meetings through Special Support Fund (SSF);

• Amendment in the Functional Methodology of ECO for utilization of ECO Feasibility Fund;

• Recommendation of 3^rd Transport & Communication Ministers and the ECO Transit Transport Framework Agreement:

•  Terms of Reference of ECO Permanent Commission on Transport and Communication;

•  Signing of MOU and the OSZlD and UIC in the near future;     

• Rotation formula for the post of ECO S.G. for 2000 to 2015 i.e. S.G. and two post of DSG to founding members at one time;

•  Appointment of new S.G. from Iran and of two DSGs one from Pakistan and one from Azerbaijan;

• The new organizational structure/work ;

• Amendment to Functional Methodology for utilization of ECO Special Feasibility Fund i.e. CPR may authorize S.G. to undertake financial commitment upto 20% of the total cost of the project subject to maximum of 50,000 of US$ with prior approval of CPR.

•  Amendments in items 2&3 of Article III of the ECI Charter relating to terms of President;

•  Executive Director tenure from 3 years to 4 years extendable by one year by rotation in alphabetic order;

• Setting up of Working Group at Senior Officials level and for report through CPR regarding effectiveness and efficiency of ECO and reconsideration of specialized agencies/institutions.

  9^th meeting of COM was held in Baku-Azerbaijan on 21 May 1999

The 9^th COM while adopting Baku Declaration  approved/decided

•  To hold Ministerial Meeting in the priority areas of trade, energy and industry;

• Amendment to Annex I, II of Staff Regulation concerning recruitment of Assistant to officers as favoured by informal COM at New York in 30 September 1998;

• Publicity of ECO projects and programmes to attract the private sector;           

• Terms of Reference of the Contact Group of the ECO Ambassadors at various fora;

• Rules of Procedures for selection of S.G. Creation of third post of DSG.

  8^th meeting of COM held in Almaty-Kazakhstan on May 8, 1998

The 8^th meeting of COM while adopting Almaty Declaration approved/decided:

• Basic documents of ECO Cultural Institute, ECO Science Foundation and ECO Education Institute;

• Charter of ECO Education;

• MOU on Cooperation against Smuggling and Custom Frauds; Resolution with Regard to Strengthening the Measures for Monitoring the International Trade in percusror, narcotics and psychotropic sub;

•  Modalities for Grant of ECO Awards;

•  Main text of the Transit Transport Framework Agreement;

• Amendment in Article 29(c) of the ECO Rules of Procedure regarding quorum i.e.4 member in meeting requiring not to take any decision by simple majority;

  7^th meeting of COM  was held in Tehran-Iran  on 28-29 April, 1997

The The 7^th meeting of COM approved/decided

• Article of Agreement for establishment of ECO Reinsurance Company.

  6^th meeting of COM was held in Ashgabat-Turkmenistan on May 11, 1996

The 6^th COM while adapting declaration decided/approved:

• The appointment of Mr. Ondar Ozar as S.G from Turkey and two Deputies from Pakistan and Iran;

• Final Report of the Eminent Persons Group;

• MOU regarding restructuring and reorganization of the ECO;

  5^th meeting of COM held on 21-23 January 1995 at Ashgabat-Turkmenistan

The 5^th  COM approved/decided:

• Signed MOUs with UNDP and UNDCP by Azerbaijan, Iran, Kyrgyz, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Turkey and Turkmenistan.

• Drafted ECO Transit Trade Agreement and Agreement on Simplification of Visa Procedure for the Business of ECO countries by Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Turkey and Turkmenistan;

• Charter of ECO Science Foundation was rectified by Azerbaijan, Iran, Pakistan, Turkey and Turkmenistan;

• Status of ECO College of Insurance;

• Plan of Action on Drug Control.

• A panel of eminent and competent persons to consider the reappraisal of Treaty of Izmir and restructuring of ECO.

  4^th COM held on 25-26 January 1994 at Istanbul- Turkey approved:

• Declared year 1994-2004 as “The Decade for Transport and Communication" for the ECO Region.

• Articles of Agreement of the ECO Trade and Development Bank at Istanbul and to have a techno-economic study by independent consultant;

• Out Line Plan for development of Transport Sector prepared by Transport Minister of the ECO Member on 25-27 October 1993;

• Follow up Action on ECO Guidelines for Implementation of the World Children Summit Goals, and the Conventions on the Rights of the Child”.

• ECO Plan of Action for safeguarding children towards the year 2000 as national plan by member countries.

•  Framework for ECO cooperation in health;

  3^rd COM held on 6-7 February 1993 at Quetta-Pakistan

Third COM being historic event after expansion attended by 10 members, representative of UN, OIC and IDB attended the meeting. The COM approved/decided:

• Proposal of S.G. on Guideline related to Functional Methodology of ECO;

• Grant of ECO Award;

• Preparation of Economic Report of member states; 

• Future Plan of Action called as Quetta Plan of Action to recognize and identify ECO project which may be of interest to some member states;

• Undertake observer status in OIC and other relevant organizations.

 Special Meeting in Istanbul on 5 and 7 July 1993 at Istanbul- Turkey approved:

• The Council exchanged views on the Long-Term Perspectives of ECO with the aim of defining the basic goals to be achieved up to the year 2000. The Council also commended the setting of guidelines in the fields of Transport and Communications, Trade, Energy, Industry, Agriculture, Tourism, Human Resources Development and establishment of an ECO Special Fund for Feasibility Studies.

  2^nd COM was held on 5-6 February 1992 at Ankara and decided/approved:     

• Finalised procedure for confirmation or postponement of ECO events;

• Accepted applications of Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan for membership, COD, SG and asked legal experts  to draw an agreement.

•  On the request of Turkish Muslim Cypriot for ECO membership to have a report from Secretary General (S.G);

• To set up a Committee of Export from three member on drug control.

  1^st COM was held on 22-23 May, 1991 at Tehran approved:

• Revised framework and modalities for ECO Awards and granted First ECO Awards;

• Guidelines for the working procedure of seven technical committees.